RE: Caribbean cruise stops in Labadee

The part of Haiti that the cruise ships stop at is very safe. In fact, it's hardly Haiti (by which I mean you won't see any of the real and fascinating Haitian culture there). Instead, you'll be on a lovely, if crowded white sand beach, fronted by a lot of trinket shops. And in the trees are lots of barbed wire fences to keep the locals out. I found it kind of a sad place, but there you have it.

RE: Caribbean cruise stops in Labadee

I've taken that itinerary and the Haiti stop is fun. Great beach, lots of little shops. Unfortunately, it's a private part of Haiti, so you don't really see any of the real Haiti. But that keeps it safe, I guess.

RE: Caribbean cruise stops in Labadee

In fact, Royal Caribbean's private beach area is ringed by barbed wire, and beggars frequently try to convince tourists to toss them fruit from the endless buffet. The cruise line will stop you if you try (it stopped me). RCCL is vocal about reminding people that it does humanitarian things for the locals and that overall life is better for the employment it provides, which are all true, but an observant cruise passenger can't help but be dismayed by the poverty that is so evident just beyond the wires and by the enforced segregation from the "real" Haiti.

Sadly, many passengers don't even realize they're in Haiti, and they never turn their face from the ocean and their rum runners long enough to notice what's happening just beyond the perimeter of the fence.

RE: Caribbean cruise stops in Labadee

Maybe for you, and that's valid for you, but there are many, many people who do indeed take cruises to experience other cultures and countries.There are people who specifically choose cruises because they make it easier to sample lots of other places. (There are also people whose find cruising frazzling, not relaxing.) Everyone has their own taste, and that's fine.

RE: Caribbean cruise stops in Labadee

I think you are fooling yourself Jason. No way a cruise experience has anything to do with experiencing other cultures--unless your goal is to experience the cultural differences between t-shirt shops in each port. Cruises serve a wonderful purpose, but it has nothing to do with experiencing another culture to any degree whatsoever.